[oh8eleven]

I wonder how good these guys are. Could they go toe to toe with, let's say, Al Qaeda?
Well, you could look it up - "Great Battles in History Won by the Swiss Guards."

Oh, wait ...

[Perdogg]

There is a first time for everything.

[ansel12]

The Swiss were famous as warriors and mercenaries.

[VR-21]

Over 600 Swiss Guards died bravely, standing their ground defending the Royal Family from an armed mob at the Tuileries Palace in 1792 during the French Revolution. There's a monument to them in Lucerne, which Mark Twain described as "The saddest, most moving piece of rock in the world." I agree with him. Here's a google link to some pictures of it. Give yourself a treat and have a look.

[discostu]

Sometimes the sign of being a highly skilled force is never having to fight.

[DoodleDawg]

In May 1527 about 150 out of 190 Swiss Guards gave their lives fighting the troops of Charles V and allowing Pope Clement VII to escape capture. Anyone who thinks the current Swiss Guard wouldn’t do the same to protect the current Pope is kidding themselves.